Another "what to buy ??"

[cwlongshot]

Hello everyone,
 My wife, father and I just concluded a Maine Vacation to the Jackman area. If you don't know it, there is a huge ATV/Sno machine community there. My wife and got to ride on three different machines a couple times during the week and had a blast. Now we are hooked and already planning the next excursion!! Been surfing a bit looking at used machines, something to start with. I had a Suzuki Quad Sport I bought new in 1985. Its long gone, but this trip rekindled my love affair with quads. I am going with a 4x4 something at least 400cc's, 500 would be better as it will be two of us to start. If the wife really takes to it, she will get her own machine. This is logging road riding, minor rock work. 4x4 rarely necessary.

My buddie has a 2005 Polaris Sportsman 500. We drove this most of the time. The power very good, ride excellent, CVT tranny not my favorite. But this isn't a strike against Polaris there was a a Can am 800 and a Yamaha 350 and all where near the same feeling and noises "slushiness". I also rode a Suzuki EIGER 400. This is a auto clutch but manual shift and I liked this MUCH better. Power also very good. the littlest machine was a Yamaha 350, my buddies wife's machine. Rode excellent, the RPMs where up for the same speeds telling me it was under powdered. But it felt good, I mean if you jabbed the throttle it went.

We are traveling logging roads and quad trails at 15-30MPH, nothing faster and the majority was under 20-25MPH. Racks and a back seat, weather I add it or it comes with the machine doesn't matter would be a necessity. I also measured and all but the widest WILL fit in my jeep trailer!!!

What do you have and what would you recommend or have for advice, keeping with in the riding requirements. I am not looking for a machine to blast around the dunes, been there done that with the second machine I owned.. a Suzuki Quad racer 250 2stroke. This is a trail machine. At first two up, maybe next year a second machine for the wife.

My pop already pulled the trigger on a 2010 Polaris 550 Sportsman. He is hooked harder than I am!!! I have been wheeling jeeps for the past twenty years or so and this ATVing is even more attractive to me!

Looking for ward to your opinions.

CW

PS, I read thru Team 101's post and see some very good information there!!

[Graybeard]

I can't really tell you what you should do but can tell you what I would do. I've owned only Honda and Yamaha. I can't see me straying from those two brands for a quad tho if I ever decide I can afford a side by side machine I might buy a different brand there. For me with the side by side load carrying capacity in the bed would likely be a primary decision factor the way I'd use it around here.

I currently ride a Yamaha 350 Bruin 4x2 and it has loads of power and is tough as nails. It's an auto tranny and I'll never own another that isn't. It is rated to tow around 1000-1100 pounds as best as I can recall. I've pulled more than a ton with it in my 17 cu. ft. trailer several times even going up the hill to the barn it gets the job done. It has more speed than I feel any need for but then I don't do trail rides I use mine only here on my small farm. In Alabama you can't use them on public land except on the one riding trail they have and it's far too heavily used by idiots for me to even think of going there.

The newer Yamahas from around 500 up have electric power steering available which strikes me as a nice feature if you get into tight spots as I some times do when riding the woods on the back of my place. I honestly don't see me ever needing more power than the 350 has even if I ever got to ride trails but I wouldn't go larger than a 450 or 500 as anything more is just heavier and are made for those folks who just gotta see if they can go 60 mph or more on trails where 25 likely is marginally safe. I'm NOT that kinda rider.

So iffen it were me looking for what I think you are looking for I'd go with the Yamaha 500 auto 4x4 with electric power steering. I really doubt you'll need the 4x4 feature tho unless you get into a lot of mud riding. The only time mine has been stuck was when it was buried in mud once by me and once by Matt in the bottom of my pond the first year it was build when the drought dried up the water but didn't harden the mud. I have a winch and that's all that's been needed to get it out of any mess so far.

[Paladin]

anything used is going to have problems. if you can fix them your self go for it. parts are expensive and for older machines, sometimes hard to find. I'd look for at least a 400 or 500.

[McDerry]

Where it doesn't sound like you plan to use this for utility, I'd be going to a dealership and trying out the Sportsman 400 ho.  Its built on a midsize chassis (about same size as the honda 300's), has a tight belt system like the yamaha's, plenty of horsewpower if needed, no shifting and a true all wheel drive system.  The clutch system on them is incredibly easy to tune. They top out at 50 but there plenty fast enough for the trails and will get to speed in a heart beat.


For a shiftable machine, check out the Yamaha Big Bear.  If your going to have the dependability of a manual transmission you might aswell go all the way and get a good spartan rig.  5 speed, independent suspension, air cooled, sealed wet brakes, lockers, classic CDI ignition, large fuel capacity and servicable suspension components (balljoints that are not integral to the a-arm for example).


Probally the most common rig I see up here in Maine though is the classic Sportsman 500 with the McPherson struts up front, not the newer XP model.  It kinda replaced the old 200 Honda's as the go to rig.  That and parts could be sourced through tractor suppliers like John Deere for signifigantly cheaper. 

[Dave in WV]

I've got a Yamaha Grizzly 660 I bought used from a friend. It was a good deal but it was more machine than I actually wanted. I bought a snow plow for it and now it's not too big.

If any machine you get has an automatic transmission, try to get one that works as well as the Yamaha does. The engine braking is outstanding.  Fuel injected machines have no warm up period needed. I am happy with my Yamaha. Honda seems to be the gold standard. Polaris is moving manufacturing to Mexico. IMHO an automaic transmission is the way to go.

[RON17T]

Kawasaki prairie 360 I love mine.Never given me any problems and I beat it.Will carry me 210lbs,my buddy 250lbs,1 deer,2 guns no problem. There not that expensive brand new either.

[markc]

Seeing as Polaris is pulling the plug and moving to Mexico, I personally would not buy one for that reason alone.  Yamaha 450 is one of my favorite ATV's.  I do not think you can go wrong really with anything from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or CanAm, Arctic Cat too. 

[Lloyd Smale]

Id look at what yamaha and canam has in the 400-500cc range. Hondas are good too but the bikes in that cc range are a bit underpowered compared to yamaha and especaily canam. The canams are a bit more expensive but keep in mind a 500 can am will give you performace equal to most other brands 600 and 650s and will give my 700 grizzly a good run for its money. Polariss give good perfomance but if my rzr and my buddys two 500 sportsman are typical the reliability just isnt up to the rest.

[DANNY-L]

You cant go wrong with a HONDA

[cwlongshot]

Well after much deliberation, a couple test rides and many hours surfing ATV sites. I have decided on a Polaris. I came very close to a new 550 like my pops. In the end I dropped the hammer on a great deal on a used 2007 Sportsman 700 EFI twin. It was bought as a snow mover and second machine and apparently used very little. (less than 75 miles) Comes with a plow, winch and back seat/cargo box and a six month factory warranty!!! All for the same cost of a new stripped 550. Should have it next week. Only "problem I have with it is its color. But its growing on me... its red. No not the end of the world, but I wanted green or black possibly camo, after all it will see use in the hunting fields and woods.

Pics coming. I took a couple days off around the upcoming holiday and we have a trip back to Jackman Maine, to run them a bit. Man I am like a lil' kid waitin' for santie claus!!!

CW

[Dave in WV]

If you get a chance to ride it a little before heading off on the trail do it. Get used to the handling and throttle control before having a rider with you.

A red machine is prolly as visable as a green or black one to game. A more visible machine to other hunters is a plus IMHO.

[coyote170]

HONDA:Always in the woods,never in the shop!!!

[Ron 1]

cw           i found a honda 300 4x4 used and abused for 500.00
it runs great the 4x4 is in good shape just no brakes but that can be fixed pretty easy
krylon fussiun paint is for plastic so it can be painted  you can see mine in  abused wheelers.
          rw

[Doug B.]

I run a 650 Arctic Cat (Kawasaki 2 cylinder engine) that I bought used about three years ago and it has been flawless. The frames on these are quite large which has taken a bit of getting used to, but, it DOES give a person a lot of "room" and this machine has unbelievable power. Mine moves snow for me and does so VERY well. I also like the fact that this machine was assembled in northern Minnesota and I'm guessing A.C. will most likely stay there. BTW...It's my understanding that they now manufacture their own power plant, and have for a number of years. My Kawasaki engine has been bullet proof and has held up well. 

[Drilling Man]

Where it doesn't sound like you plan to use this for utility, I'd be going to a dealership and trying out the Sportsman 400 ho.  Its built on a midsize chassis (about same size as the honda 300's), has a tight belt system like the yamaha's,

  NO ONE has a belt system like a Yamaha.  Yamaha uses the belt for the tranny only, and has a separate "oil cooled" clutch, for clutch duty.  The others use the belt for the clutch too, and that means MUCH more belt wear and squeaking ect...  The Yamaha belt stays under tension all the time, it's much superior to the others.

  DM

[cwlongshot]

I picked up a second quad last weekend for my wife. 

I don't know if she will take to it and she needs to learn everything. So I decided on another Polaris. I went used and inexpensive so if she doesn't like it I can resell and recoup my $$. If she likes it we will up grade to a mid sized independent suspended 4x4 next year.

This one a 2000 Trail Boss 325. Its automatic with a single brake lever and a forward neutral and reverse shifter. Pretty simple. Its 2WD nimble steering and enough power to keep up on the wider clear portions of the trail. Its a nice machine! Its fun on the trails with enough pep to be fun. She has only ridden it here in the yard, she has a tough schedule with work.



CW

[cwlongshot]

I never threw up a pic of my 700...




All ready to move snow.

CW